By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – The roof at the Village Hall, at the corner of East Bank and Platt streets, will soon be replaced as well as the roofs on the Fire Hall and Department of Public Works buildings.
ALBION – The Village Board decided on Wednesday to borrow $550,000 in a bond to pay for new roofs for the Village Hall, Fire Hall and Department of Public Works.
Doing all of the projects at once should provide some economies of scale and result in lower bids from contractors, said Dale Brooks, DPW superintendent.
The double-layered roofs have been leaking and they at the end of their useful lives, said Jason Foote, an engineer with Clark Patterson Lee, which inspected the roofs and helped prepare cost estimates.
The board voted to seek a bond to pay for the project, which should be done before winter.
The project will include the 3,500 square foot roof on the Village Hall, the 2,200 square foot roof on the Fire Hall, and two roofs at the DPW building – one that is 10,900 square feet over the truck bays and shop, and another that is 3,500 square feet over the offices.
Foote said the new roofs will be more energy efficient. The current roofs are two layers. Those layers will be ripped off for a new roof.
The village will wait for bids from banks on the bond to see the interest rates on the loan.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 June 2015 at 12:00 am
ALBION – Village of Albion personnel will run Elba’s water and sewer plants for a year with Albion to be paid $34,320 for providing personnel on a part-time basis.
The agreement was formally approved by the Albion Village Board on Wednesday, and is retroactive to June 1.
Albion will have personnel at the Elba facilities for about 2 hours each day. Rick Albright, the sewer plant chief operator, will handle the sewer oversight in Elba while Bill Logan, a DPW worker with a water license, will work at Elba’s water plant.
Albion has been managing the Holley sewer plant for the past year.
Elba is expected to use village personnel on a short-term basis for water because a transmission line is currently being installed down Route 98. That will link Elba to the Monroe County Water Authority, which provides much of the public water in Genesee County. Elba may not be able to connect to that system until next year.
The agreement between Elba and Albion gives each municipality the option of backing out of the agreement with 90 days notice.
Albion officials said the agreements with Elba and Holley are ways to bring revenue into the village, while using existing employees to help neighboring municipalities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 June 2015 at 10:55 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Two people were taken by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries after a three-car accident at about 9:30 p.m. today on Route 31 in Albion.
The driver of the red car struck the black car as the driver of the black car was getting ready to turn left into her driveway on Route 31, just west of the Phipps Road intersection.
The driver of the black car was injured and taken by ambulance to Strong Memorial Hospital. A 2-year-old boy in the black car also suffered minor injuries, police said at the scene.
The driver of the truck swerved to avoid the two-car crash and clipped one of the vehicles before going partially off the road. The driver of the truck needed to be extricated from the vehicle by Albion firefighters.
The driver was taken by ambulance to Strong Memorial.
The driver in the red car caused the accident, police said. The driver said he was reaching for peanuts when the driver in the black car put on her turning signal. The red car then rear-ended the black car, police said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Mandi Covis, a senior at Albion High School, stands by a display she made highlighting her internship experience with Hospice of Orleans.
Covis did administrative work for Hospice and also spent serving at the residence for terminally ill patients. She impressed Hospice staff so much she was offered a summer job.
“She was a tremendous asset,” said Nyla Gaylord, Hospice’s director of development. “She is tremendously creative. She is a quick study and very bright.”
Covis is one of 25 Albion seniors who did internships since January, working with local businesses and organizations. This morning there was a reception in the high school cafeteria, highlighting the students and their intern experiences.
Covis is considering a career in nursing or health services administration. She will attend Kent State in the fall. She said the health field is strong with a good chance for landing a job after she graduates.
Lorena Martinez did an internship with the Eagles Pride Daycare at the Albion Middle School. She will attend Genesee Community College in the fall to pursue a degree in early childhood development.
“Every time I walk in they smile,” she said about the preschoolers.
She worked with Eagles Pride staff to encourage the children to use words.
“You have to be really patient,” she said about working with the preschoolers. “They’re still young and learning.”
Elizabeth Bentley, right, interned at the Medina Veterinary Clinic. She is pictured with Patty Welker, a member of the Veterinary Clinic. Bentley observed surgeries and helped with tasks at the vet clinic on Route 63.
Bentley wants to be a large animal vet. She has worked the past five years feeding calves at the Van Lieshout Farm in Barre. She is attending Alfred University this fall with a pre-vet major in biology.
Xochitl Rosario interned with first grade teacher Kelly Wadhams. The experience confirmed Rosario’s goal to become an elementary school teacher.
“It was really helpful,” Rosario said. “It showed me what to expect in this career.”
She helped students with their reading, and did many arts and crafts projects with them, helping them to learn. She spent two to three hours in the classroom most school days, often reading to the students.
“I want to be there for them,” she said about her goal to become a teacher. “I love them a lot.”
She plans to attend GCC for her associate’s degree and then transfer to Brockport State College.
Susan Starkweather Miller serves as the internship coordinator. She said few rural schools have such a program, connecting students to work experiences in the community.
“We’re fortunate so many businesses and organizations are willing to work with our students and provide meaningful work experiences for them,” she said.
The following students did internships: Jayne Bannister, Nita Bela, Elizabeth Bentley, Adryan Cheeseboro, Madyson Coville, Amanda Covis, Isabella Cox, Dominic DiCureia, Nicholas Ettinger, Laura Flanagan, Lorena Martinez, Sara Maxon, Elena Mergler, Sarah Metzler, Gary Moore, Justice Nauden, Charlene Olick, Carol Pritchard, Xochitl Rosario, Megan Rosato, Jacia Schick, Morgan Seielstad, Emily Shabazz, David Stilwell and Jordan Tucker.
The following served as internship sites: Albion Central School, Albion Police Department, Country Lane Veterinary Services, CRFS’s information technology department, Dance Reflections with Miss Heather, Fuller & Company, GCASA, Hospice of Orleans County, Le Roy Physical Therapy, Medina High School FFA, Medina Veterinary Clinic, Orleans Community Health’s physical therapy department, Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, Pathstone, Phoenix Fitness, Rosenkranz Pharmacy, Saint-Gobain Adfors, Village of Albion Water Treatment Plant and YMCA Eagle’s Pride Daycare.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 June 2015 at 12:00 am
HENRIETTA – An Albion police officer and the department’s new K-9 dog, Rex, were in an accident on Thursday night in Henrietta.
Officer Robert Wagner and Rex are both OK but the K-9 vehicle sustained “substantial damage,” Police Chief Roland Nenni said.
An insurance company is evaluating the vehicle to determine the next steps, Nenni said.
Wagner and Rex are attending the 14-week training for free through the Rochester Police Department, which is training three new police dogs.
The Albion vehicle was in an accident at about 11:30 p.m. on Thursday when another motorist failed to yield at Still Pond Way. That vehicle pulled out in front of the Albion Police Department SUV on East River Road in Henrietta, Time Warner Cable News reported.
The impact of the crash caused the car to hit another vehicle waiting at a stop sign. The police SUV then went off the road, crashing into a telephone pole, Time Warner Cable News reported.
Nenni said Wagner and Rex are expected to complete their training next month, towards the middle or end of July.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2015 at 9:42 am
Provided photo – Shannon Vanderlaan of Albion holds one of the rabbits that was scooped up from Route 31 at about 9 p.m. today near Wal-Mart.
ALBION – A dozen rabbits were rescued from busy traffic on Route 31 tonight after the rabbits were dumped in the road.
There were likely more than a dozen rabbits that were dropped on Route 31, just west of Albion near the Allen Road intersection.
Passing motorists stopped and were able to grab many of the rabbits.
Shelley Pollock-Kavulich was the first to pull over. She put on her flashers and called 911.
“I am glad they are safe,” she said about the rabbits. “I just wish I got a license plate for them to get in trouble for what they did.”
Karen Conn, her husband Mitch Conn and Karen’s daughter Shannon Vanderlaan were riding together from Medina to Albion when they encountered the rabbits in the road. The family pulled over and helped corral the rabbits.
“They were all scared,” Mrs. Conn said tonight. “They were are right in the middle of the road.”
She held one and could feel it’s heart racing. The Conn family ended up keeping one of the rabbits at the suggestion of a deputy at the scene. The rest of the rabbits were put in the back of the deputy’s SUV.
There were 11 rabbits taken to the Orleans County Animal Shelter in Barre at the corner of routes 31A and 98.
A dispatcher said the rabbits were dumped by someone driving a white full-size van. The rabbits were good size and domesticated, the dispatcher said.
Conn said some of the rabbits made it to the bushes by the road. She thinks a few may have gotten away without someone picking them up after they were dropped in the road.
Conn was happy to see motorists and one man on a bicycle stop and help the rabbits. She remains mystified that the rabbits would be unloaded like that in such a busy road.
“It was such a bizarre situation,” she said. “I can’t believe someone would do that.”
For more information about the rabbits and the hours at the animal shelter, call dispatch at (585) 589-5527.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Albion Strawberry Festival Committee has named the royalty and the winning poster for this year’s 29th annual festival, set for June 12-13.
To be considered for the royalty, Albion students had to write an essay about this year’s festival theme: “Hook, Line, and Strawberry!”
The royalty will be included in the parade at 10 a.m. on June 13 and will serve as ambassadors during the festival. The group includes, from left: Chase Froman, king; Kelsey Froman, princess; Vivian Rivers, queen; and William Barnosky, prince.
The festival committee also picked the winning student artwork that will be used on posters and other promotion materials.
Meghan Hurley holds the winning poster with the fishing and strawberry theme. Meghan and the top three poster artists will each receive $25 for their efforts.
Ashlee Bocach holds the second-place poster.
Elena Mergler holds the third-place poster design.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Three seniors at Albion High School were presented $2,000 in combined scholarships by the Albion Rotary Club today. The trio includes, from left: Adryan Cheeseboro, Kellie O’Hearn and Logan London.
Adryan Cheeseboro was awarded the $1,250 Dick Eddy “Service Above Self” Scholarship. It is given in memory of Eddy, a local businessman and community leader. The scholarship goes to a student who demonstrates a commitment to community service and leadership, and displays a high potential for future accomplishment. Cheeseboro plans to attend SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, where she will major in environmental studies. Cheeseboro has been active at Albion in cheerleading, chorus, the National Honor Society and other community service projects.
Kellie O’Hearn was awarded the Edward B. Archbald Memorial Scholarship in memory of Archbald, who was a 70-year member of Rotary, a farmer, an outdoorsmen and philanthropist. The scholarship goes to a senior with a love of sports, community service and work experience. O’Hearn played soccer, softball, basketball and tennis at Albion. She was on the mock trial team and in Rotary Interact. She plans to major in business administration at Grove City College in Pennsylvania.
Logan London was awarded a $250 “Rotary Career Advancement Prize” for a student entering a field that doesn’t require a traditional college education. London has been in the FFA, Rotary Interact and the marching band, while working in jobs outside of school. She also is involved with the Clay Crushers, a youth trapshooting team. London enlisted with the Army last October and ships out to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri on Aug. 18. She wants to become a professional dog handler after her Army career, providing working dogs for veterans and people with disabilities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 June 2015 at 12:00 am
School district also recognizes retiring staff
Emily Wemmer
ALBION – A high school English teacher who has served as advisor to the Student Council has been named “Educator of the Year” by the Board of Education.
Emily Wemmer was announced as the top educator during an awards reception on Monday, just before the Board of Education meeting.
Board President Margy Brown noted that Wemmer started her career at Albion in 2007 and attained tenure in 2010. She has served a Student Council advisor since 2009.
“Her work with this group has really made an impact with her students and the community,” Brown said. “The group has made a commitment to community service and runs several clothing and food drives throughout the year. They host an annual Costume Closet in October of each year to help families celebrate Halloween.”
The Student Council also has been active with the Golisano Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House with events such as the annual “Walk for a Cause” in September.
The group collects cleaning supplies for the Ronald McDonald House and pop tabs are donated to the Golisano Children’s Hospital. The hospital recycles the tabs and the proceeds help fund life-saving treatments, Brown said.
Wemmer and the Student Council also organize the annual Senior Citizens’ Day, which is popular with both students and seniors.
Provided photo – The following Albion Central School staff are retiring after this school year, from left: Judy Brace, Linda Logan, Dawn Bower, Pat West and Sharon Lang. Missing from photo include Anna Klosin and Richard Sanford.
The Board of Education also recognized retiring staff during Monday’s reception.
The following are retiring: Judy Brace after 27 years, Linda Logan after 34 years, Anna Klosin after 30 years, Dawn Bower with 23 years of service, Pat West with 22 years, Sharon Lang with 19 years and Richard Sanford with 15 years.
This group of retirees has more than 170 combined years of service to the Albion Central School.
The board also recognized teachers and staff for the following milestone anniversaries:
10 years of service: Jill Albertson, Melody Beecher, Dawn Brower, Patricia Levandowski, Holly McNair and Cassondra Schomske.
15 years: Lu Johnson, Christopher Keller, Adam Krenning, Shawn Ragonese, Jennifer Rowe, Richard Sanford, Kevin Smith and Angie Wolfe.
20 years: Kevin Feder, Cathy Galbreth, Carrie Kozody, Terri Monacelli, Toni Plummer, Tom Ritchey, Pam Sargent, Richard Shrout, Sue Webster and Kelly Wadhams.
25 years: Jodi Shaffer, Karen Spierdowis and Lisa Werner.
30 years: David Draper, Paul Drought, Ralph Englert, Anna Klosin, Douglas Mergler, Ellen Reichert Goff, Gary Simboli, Wayne Wadhams and Kathy Winans.
ALBION – The Albion Police Department participated in the “Buckle Up New York Campaign” from May 18-31. The Police Department was awarded a $5,250 grant from the New York State Governors Traffic Safety Committee to participate in the Police Traffic Services Program.
During this 14-day enforcement wave, Albion police officers issued 67 tickets for various Vehicle & Traffic Law violations including the following:
34 seatbelt tickets
2 speeding tickets
10 uninspected motor vehicles
3 unlicensed operators
3 aggravated unlicensed operator 3rd degree
1 aggravated unlicensed operator 2nd degree
5 operating while registration suspended/revoked
5 unregistered motor vehicles
1 displayed forged certificate of inspection
1 inadequate/no muffler
1 leaving the scene of a property damage accident
1 unregistered trailer
The Albion Police Department hosted two multi-agency road checks during the campaign period with assistance from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and New York State Police. The road checks were conducted on South Main Street in the Village of Albion.
The main factors that cause fatalities in motor vehicle accidents continues to be speeding, not wearing seatbelts and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The safety of our streets continues to be one of the number one goals of the Albion Police Department. We will continue to strive to make our community safe, Chief Nenni said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 June 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Brenda West, left, and Kimberly Zambito-Dutton are pictured by the new sign for the PAWS Animal Shelter. West is the daughter of Carol Beach, who died on Nov. 28 at age 75.
ALBION – This new sign for the PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion went up last week, replacing the original sign from when the shelter opened in 1981.
Kimberly Zambito-Dutton of Kent paid for the sign as a memorial for Carol Beach, a long-time supporter for PAWS. She was also a former board member who adopted dogs from the site on Gaines Basin Road in Albion.
Beach was also like a second mother for Zambito-Dutton.
“Everybody loved Carol,” Zambito-Dutton said today at PAWS. “She was a very giving and loving person. She would have loved this.”
West and Zambito-Dutton have been best friends since the fourth grade.
Zambito-Dutton remembers driving by PAWS about two years ago and noticing how worn the sign was. When she was reflecting on Beach’s life and her commitment to PAWS, Zambito-Dutton decided the new sign would be a nice tribute for Beach and also give PAWS a boost.
“It looks a lot better,” said Morgan Tinkous, PAWS manager.
The sign includes the letters I.M.O.C.B., which stands for “In Memory of Carol Beach.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Friends of the Orleans County Animal Shelter put on a benefit today at The Pillars in Albion. It was a big draw with about 200 baskets up for raffle.
The Friends expected to raise at least $4,000, with the proceeds to help with spaying, neutering, vaccinations and some of the medical costs for animals.
“The community has been very supportive,” said Kathy Smith, the county’s animal control officer.
She thanked the many businesses and organizations that contributed to today’s benefit, as well as the volunteers that organized the event.
The Friends has a board of directors with five members and a dedicated corps of about 20 volunteers that serve at the animals shelter, located at the corner of routes 98 and 31A in Barre.
Nancy Miles, a retired Albion town clerk, is among the volunteers and board members.
Sgt. Todd Draper of the Medina Police Department and K-9 Kye did a drug detection demonstration.
Miles said the shelter could use funds so its smoke alarm system sends signals to dispatch if there is an alarm. The shelter could also use a new laundry machine for blankets and towels for the animals, and a walk-in tub to make it easier to give dogs a bath.
“I absolutely love animals,” Miles said. “They need somebody to speak up for them.”
Tony McMurtie, co-owner of The Pillars, made the facility available for the benefit. He adopted a dog from the animal shelter that proved a good pet.
Wendy Kenney, a board member for Friends, wasn’t surprised by the turnout, despite the rain.
“A lot of people have pets and a lot of people have adopted from us,” she said.
Lt. Chris Bourke, the K-9 handler with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, talks about Kim the K-9 before they did a demonstration showing the dog’s tracking abilities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Victoria Perez, singer with the Buffalo Tango Orkestra, performs on Saturday night at The Pillars in Albion as part of an event that included tango lessons and dinner.
The Orkestra was welcomed to Albion as part of a concert series by the Orleans Renaissance Group.
Prior to the concert, Travis Widrick and Tiniko Natsulichvili (pictured) led a group in tango lessons. Widrick teaches tango classes in Buffalo. For more information, click here.
Paul-Joseph Struckmann plays the violin for the Buffalo Tango Orkestra during Saturday’s concert.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 May 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Members of the Albion Fire Department have been at the routes 31 and 98 intersection today with their annual “Fill the Boot” fund-raising drive. The top photo shows Stan Farone, right, and Dale Banker, long-time members of the department.
This photo shows Marty Stirk, right, and Matt Francis on Route 31, east of Route 98.
Dale Banker, right, also did a shift earlier today with Jeremy Babcock.
ALBION – The Albion Urgent/Primary Care site is closed until Friday morning “due to a brown outage causing some electrical issues,” said Cindy Perry, director of outreach, education and marketing for Orleans Community Health, owner of the site at the corner of Butts Road and Route 31.
The brown outage was caused by a limb from a tree in Albion, Perry said.
“The issues have been fixed and inspections are taking place today,” she said. “The building and all services will reopen tomorrow morning. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
